A group of investment firms has forced American Bancorp. into liquidation over unpaid trust-preferred debt. Creditors have threatened to go this route before but this is the first time any have followed through, serving as an ominous precedent for the up to 300 banks in danger of defaulting on the hybrid securities.

Mercantile Bank (MBWM) in Grand Rapids, Mich., has finally completed its acquisition of Firstbank (FBMI) in Alma, Mich.

Innovative branch design and technology won't win the day alone. Finding the right manager and staff is still the key factor in creating a thriving branch.

Astoria Federal Savings (AF) in Lake Success, N.Y., has changed its name to Astoria Bank.

Los Alamos National Bank in New Mexico named community banking veteran John S. Gulas as its next chief executive officer.

Banks that drive customers away with pre-recession practices should clean up their act or get ready for competitors to use their missteps against them.

The Seminole Tribe of Florida is reportedly seeking approval to form a bank and buy Valley Bank in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Under Roy Malone's direction, Golden Pacific Bancorp last year introduced an online lending platform that vastly speeds up the approval process for borrowers seeking Small Business Administration loans ranging from $5,000 to $150,000.

NBT Bancorp in Norwich, N.Y., has prepaid about $165 million in Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings.

Creating a more efficient way to do the same old thing isn't enough, says David Gerbino. Banks need to reconstruct some of their basic deposit products to truly innovate.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency has closed Slavie Federal Savings Bank in Bel Air, Md.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. is looking to ban a former Tennessee banker from the industry following his institution's 2012 failure.

The addition of a new community bank section in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.'s quarterly bank earnings report is meant to make up for distortions in how large banks drive industry data.

First Internet Bank (INBK) in Indianapolis has appointed a executive to run its asset-based lending business.

The emergence of several regional banks in California could prompt smaller institutions to weigh their M&A options. Higher operating costs and limited revenue opportunities could also force more consolidation in the state.

Independent Bank Group (IBTX) in McKinney, Texas, is reportedly in talks to buy Houston Community Bank.

First Savings Bank of Perkasie in Pennsylvania has acquired investment advisor Longview Capital Management in Wilmington, Del.

A recap of the informed opinions (and the discussions they generated) on BankThink this week.

American Bancorporation was the first-ever bank holding company thrown into bankruptcy by the holders of its trust-preferred securities. Regulators may be able to avoid similar bankruptcies if more flexibility is shown in allowing holding companies to access capital to pay off creditors.

Eastern Virginia Bankshares (EVBS) said Thursday that it has agreed to acquire Virginia Company Bank (VGNA) for $9.2 million in stock and cash.